Describing Steven C. Miller’s The Aggression Scale as a violent Home Alone riff feels almost too retro-hip for my liking, but it’s almost impossible not to. The similarities between the two films are clear; pit seemingly defenseless children against brutish home invaders, watch the former embarrass and defeat the latter. But Kevin McAllister didn’t know how to work a pump-action shotgun, and possessed a much cuter propensity for violence. Owen (Ryan Hartwig), his analogue here, favors all manner of sharp objects and potent cocktails of ammonia and bleach. (They both admire the efficacy of a nail through the foot.) The clearer difference, though, lies in pathos– Kevin’s just a self-indulgent…
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[Fantastic Fest Review]…Tai Chi Zero
Editor’s Note: To coincide with its limited release staring on October 19th, we’re republishing our Fantastic Fest review of Tai Chi Zero. Have you ever found yourself wondering “what would a film look like if you threw Street Fighter II Turbo, Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World, Shaolin Soccer and Red Cliff in a blender?” Well if so then you’re in luck because Stephen Fung has just that hybrid combination to offer us at the 2012 Fantastic Fest. A highly stylized period piece it shows its fondness for manga and video games that at times overshadows the story since the gimmick gets old. Still it’s really fun at times and the pick me…
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Vintage Litwak's Arcade Game Commercials From Disney's 'Wreck-It Ralph'
Back at D23 (and then again for San Diego Comic-Con) Disney unveiled the promo arcade game of Fit It Felix Jr. to promote the upcoming computer animated film Wreck-It Ralph. Then a few weeks ago they released one of their fun vintage trailers as if the actual game existed in the 8-bit arcade era. But as Fit It Felix Jr. is just one of the many games (some real, some made up) in the film, Disney has gone the extra mile and created fake trailers for each of the main games featured in the film. Anyway, the trailer for Hero’s Duty (the Halo inspired game that plays a role in the…
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Sweet Trailer…'Tai Chi Zero'
Making waves at the Toronto International Film Festival and surprising lots of genre fans at Fantastic Fest (check out our review) is the insane martial arts flick Tai Chi Zero. A bizarre hybrid of traditional kung fu films (brilliantly choreographed by Sammo Hung) and video games that you have to see to believe. It’s wacky, it’s funny, it’s all kinds of wow and perfect for the ADHD crowd as evidenced by the trailer. Have a look and let absurdity and awesomeness of Tai Chi Zero begin… If that was a bit off putting take a look at the more toned down but impressive first trailer… In the film, the first in a planned series, Yang travels to Chen…
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Some Personal Thoughts on the Legacy and Future of Ghostbusters
Among the many dreadful remakes and reboots (those already released and those in some form of production) there has been one property that, thanks in large part to production snags, has seemingly retained its dignity and integrity. Well, it looks like those hurdles have been removed, or rather disregarded because as of right now, we are going to get *shudders* a third Ghostbuters. But that’s if this ins’t just another rumor/failed promise…ugg, getting so very tired of that. So whether or not this actually pans out I thought, after a long week, I’d use this post as the perfect way to clear my head of the ongoing Ghostbusters concerns and mental threads that have just had the…
